I avoided my mother until the weekend and she didn't seem to mind. Most of the day I was at school and at night she was out with Mr. Hunt. We were preparing to graduate from high school the following week and rehearsals took up most of the time. I just wanted high school over so I could go to college in the autumn. Even though I was just going to attend Pleasantview University, I would be living on campus and I was excited to start collecting things I would need like dishes, pots and pans, and books.

"I can't believe in three months I am out of here," I said out loud as I climbed the steps to our attic. The huge room was stuffed with the usual items you'd find like suitcases, boxes of clothes, appliances, toys, and many of my father's possessions.

While I was digging out the suitcases and dusting them down, I heard foot steps on the stairs--my mother ascended with Mr. Hunt behind her.

"So, this is where you are," she said.

"I'm trying figure out what I need for college and get started early," I replied. "We're going to have to buy some things."


Collecting things for college

"You see?" my mother said, turning to Mr. Hunt who was brushing cobwebs off his white suit with a disgusted look on his face.

"Laura, this time don't run away. We need to talk to you," began Mr. Hunt. "I'm willing to forget the insolent way you spoke to me because your mother needs my assistance. Certainly it's been difficult to raise such a headstrong child alone all these years."

"This is a family matter, Mr. Hunt," I retorted, setting a pile of books on the table. "Mom, you said that you'd write me the check this weekend out of my college fund. I just got another letter this morning from the Finance Office and they won't hold my spot in those classes until I send a down payment."


It's my school money!

Mr. Hunt took my arm and drew me into the corner of the attic near the window. The sun was shining and I could hear the mockingbird whistling in the old oak tree in front of the house.

"The time has come, Miss Ellie, for you to stop pestering your mother about money and get a job. Most teenagers graduate high school and get some sort of job to pay their way. That's what you will be doing, won't she Phillipa?"

My mother had been staring into a hat box full of old snapshots--one of them fell to the floor. It was my dad and mom on a vacation to Hawaii.

"What, Sammy?" she asked, stuffing the picture back into the bottom of the box.

"She needs to get a job this summer. We discussed this."

Mom looked up. "Yes, of course. You do. Sammy's been kind enough to arrange it."

"I'm volunteering at the shelter all summer," I protested. "Leon and I promised the director of activities we'd run the sports program for the kids."

"No, you'll be working as a nanny for my cousin, Doctor Richard Samuel and his wife, Betsy, just outside Boston. They have a little boy, Trevor who is two. This is the practical, real life working experience with young children you want--and you will get paid." He smiled smugly.


Learn to pay your way with a real job, Laura.

"No way, you can't just order me around. I won't go to Boston as a nanny just because you two say I have to!" I walked over to my mother. "This is not fair and not right."

"If you think I am going to pay for college, you will go," she said firmly. "It's only for the summer. When you get back, you can go to college. I'll send in the check the day you leave for Boston," she promised. Sammy nodded.

"This is blackmail!" I wailed.

"No, this is the real world," replied Mr. Hunt, turning and leaving the room. My mother followed.

I sat at the table and cried.

Crushed